OSCAR-nominated actress Julie Walters is to star as Coventry politician Mo Mowlam in a major new TV drama.

These are the first pictures of the Mamma Mia and Harry Potter film star who is to play the former Northern Ireland secretary and popular Labour politician in the TV special for Channel 4.

The drama is described as a personal portrait and love story of the late former Coundon Court School pupil, who was awarded the freedom of the city in 1999.

It will depict the happiness she found late in life through marriage, and her courageous battle with ill-health before her death at the age of 55 in 2005.

The one off-drama is written by See No Evil: The Moors Murders, and Dunkirk writer Neil McKay.

Midlands actress Julie Walters will portray Mo’s rise to prominence in Tony Blair’s government and her unorthodox, straight talking style that helped bring the Good Friday peace agreement to fruition in 1998.

After being diagnosed with a brain tumour Mo underwent treatment which led to weight gain and loss of hair – but in typical forthright Mo style she soon abandoned her blonde wigs and showed the world her thinning hair.

Julie also portrayed Nuneaton-born clean-up campaigner Mary Whitehouse for the BBC and she is transforming herself yet again to play Mo Mowlam, who grew up in Styvechale.

Despite her successful political career the former head girl regularly returned to Coventry to visit her family, regularly spoke at Coundon Court reunions and, even as a Labour front bencher, found time to support a campaign fighting against proposed cuts to the city’s Belgrade Theatre in 1993.

The drama is based on extensive research including interviews with family, close colleagues and key players in the Northern Ireland peace process such as Martin McGuinness and David Trimble.

Channel 4 said it aimed to depict both the politician and the woman behind the public persona and offer a compelling account of the extraordinary events on the road to peace.

Liza Marshall, Channel 4’s Head of Drama, said: “Mo Mowlam is one of the most inspiring figures of our recent political past and I can’t think of an actress who could more powerfully capture her energy, wit and ultimately the tragedy of her situation than Julie Walters.”

The drama has been made with the blessing of Mo’s family and is currently being filmed. It will be broadcast on Channel 4 early next year.